Scotia, Glenville businesses report holiday highs

Many Scotia and Glenville small business owners say that the doom and gloom of the economy has yet to reach their cash registers. Holidays staples like ornaments and wine seem to have held up their usual sales, even as the recession creeps into its second calendar year.

Owner of Scotia Wine and Liquor Jim Klump said he is more than happy with what he has seen happen in his store in the past 27 months since he first started the business.

If there is a recession, you would not know it in here. Sales have been steady, in fact they are up over 20 percent from last year, said Klump.

Klump said that the holidays brought in the usual customers he sees two and three times a week, as well as what he calls the "annuals."

"There are those who I only see once a year, but they were back again this year, and that's a great sign. Whether they were purchasing for themselves or for gifts, they were here," said Klump.

Klump said he was relieved to see that people were still out buying things like the gift baskets he sells at his Mohawk Avenue location. He said that the past six weeks of the year is primarily where he makes a profit, and he depends on a strong holiday season.

"My regulars come in and buy two to three times what they usually do," said Klump.

Along Mohawk Avenue, places like CVS Pharmacy reported a steady flow of customers before and after Christmas. After-Christmas sales also looked promising for small businesses such as Scott's Hallmark on Route 50 in Glenville where owner Janice Bauer said people lined up a half hour before the store opened Friday morning. She said the store holds a 40 percent off sale every year, which she said is usually a success with this year being no exception.